Mountaineering

Mountaineering began as the sport of attempting to reach the highest point of an unclimbed big mountain, for no other reason than the challenge itself. Most people think the famous climbing phrase “because it is there” was first uttered by Edmund Hillary when he and Tenzing Norgay conquered Mount Everest in 1953. Not so. Actually George Leigh Mallory said it three decades earlier as he prepared to scale the world’s highest peak.

Mountaineering it has branched into different aspects of mountain climbing including rock-craft, snow-craft, and skiing, depending on whether the route is over rock, snow or ice. To stay safe, mountaineers need to combine experience, physical fitness and technical ability.

In France, mountaineering is called Alpinism, which describes climbing in the high, often snow and ice-covered mountains of the Alps.

Active Azur has partnered with reputable mountaineering companies who offer trips run by UIAGM qualified mountain guides, to help you achieve your mountain climbing goals with the backup of a professional team. These companies also run training courses in mountaineering, climbing and backcountry skiing so you can head into the high mountains with the skills, knowledge and experience required to stay safe. Having said that, mountaineering is a dangerous sport; the weather can turn and the conditions can become unpredictable, so it’s always a good idea to employ a guide who knows the terrain well.